What is the process of analyzing and identifying the need for and availability of people to meet the organization's strategic objectives called?

The correct choice is workforce planning because it specifically refers to the systematic process of analyzing and forecasting the workforce needs of an organization in alignment with its strategic objectives. This approach encompasses evaluating the skills and capacities of the current workforce, identifying gaps in knowledge or experience, and devising strategies to address these gaps by either re-skilling current employees or recruiting new talent.

Workforce planning is critical for ensuring that an organization has the right number of people with the necessary skills in place at the right time to meet its goals. It emphasizes long-term strategies, including the analysis of demographic trends and anticipated organizational changes, which are vital for effective human resource management.

HR planning, while similar to workforce planning, tends to focus more broadly on all aspects of human resource management, including policies, development programs, and compliance, rather than specifically on aligning workforce capabilities with strategic objectives. Talent acquisition is the process of attracting and hiring individuals but does not encompass the comprehensive analysis of workforce needs. Staffing strategy is more focused on the methods of filling positions rather than the analysis of workforce needs. Therefore, workforce planning is the term that best captures the process described in the question.